Brees will be a fantasy legend long after he's stopped
playing. At 34, that time is coming but there is hardly any
signs of aging for the only quarterback who not only threw for
5000 yards in two successive years, but of the six times any
quarterback exceeded 5000 yards - Brees had half of them. And
two of the top three of all time. He returns almost the exact
same players from last year and HC Sean Payton and all that
distraction from last year is over. For seven seasons in New
Orleans, Brees has been an elite quarterback every single
year.

Aaron Rodgers - GBP

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 2

Keeper: 2Auction 10: 11%Auction 12: 12%

2010

GBP

15

312

475

3922

28

11

64

356

4

2011

GBP

15

343

502

4643

45

6

60

257

3

2012

GBP

16

371

552

4295

39

8

54

259

2

Avg

15

342

510

4287

37

8

59

291

3

Proj

GBP

4400

36

8

250

4

Rodgers signed a five-year, $110 million extension in the
offseason so financial problems are not likely. He started
2012 slowly according to most owners when he only scored three
times over the first three games but by the end he ranked #2
in most scoring rules. Rodgers passed for 4295 yards and 39
touchdowns with only eight interceptions. Since becoming a
starter in Green Bay, he has been a lock for 4000 yards and 28
passing scores as a baseline with most seasons well exceeding
that mark. Last year he only scored twice via the run for his
lowest total since becoming a starter. The only difference
this year will be the absence of Greg Jennings (who missed
most of last year anyway) and the specter of a better ground
game. He has always been a difference maker
on a fantasy team.

Peyton Manning - FA

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 3

Keeper: 4Auction 10: 11%Auction 12: 12%

2010

IND

16

450

679

4700

33

17

18

18

2011

IND

2012

DEN

16

400

583

4659

37

11

23

6

Avg

11

283

421

3120

23

9

14

8

0

Proj

FA

5000

38

10

10

Manning was one of those golden draft picks last year.
Naturally a big risk after missing a year from neck surgery
and even admitting he had less arm strength, Manning dropped
in drafts. All he did was to throw for 4659 yards (career 2nd
best) and 37 touchdowns (again - 2nd best in career). Now he
gets to add Wes Welker to the arsenal along with a hot rookie
running back. And as if the world was not already unfair,
Manning receives the easiest passing schedule in the entire
league. It is primed for a Super Bowl run and Manning even
says his arm strength has returned.

Tier Two

Matt Ryan - ATL

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 4

Keeper: 3Auction 10: 10%Auction 12: 10%

2010

ATL

16

357

571

3705

28

9

46

122

2011

ATL

16

347

566

4177

29

12

37

84

2

2012

ATL

16

422

615

4719

32

14

33

138

1

Avg

16

375

584

4200

30

12

39

115

1

Proj

ATL

4700

33

12

100

2

After five seasons in the NFL, Ryan progressively improved and
finally ended in the top five for both pass yards (4,719) and
touchdowns (32) last year. He returns the exact same set of
receivers and while Tony Gonzalez is in his final season,
Julio Jones is one year better. The rushing game has been at
least slightly upgraded with Steven Jackson electing to join
Gonzo by settling down for a swan song. The schedule is about
average this year and all the pieces nearly the same. No
reason to expect anything different than another top 10
showing with a chance to maybe flirt with a top 5 finish.

07-25-13 Update: Ryan got paid with a $103 million, 5-year contract. No
distractions and no problem with the check at the restaurant.

Cam Newton - CAR

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 5

Keeper: 6Auction 10: 8%Auction 12: 10%

2010

2011

CAR

16

310

517

4051

21

17

126

706

14

2012

CAR

16

280

485

3869

19

12

127

741

8

Avg

16

295

501

3960

20

15

127

724

11

Proj

CAR

4000

24

12

600

5

Newton gets a new offensive coordinator but Mike Shula was his
QB coach and the move was made to ensure that Newton gets
continuity. His second season was far less prolific than his
rookie year but it really broke down into halves. The first
half was when they overloaded Newton with too much new
material and he struggled. Once that was realized by mid-
season, they backed off and Newton's play returned. He only
threw six scores in the first eight games and then 13 the rest
of the way.His role as a runner was down played as would be
expected though he still had the odd big rushing effort.
Newton's problem is mostly that everything has remained the
same. The Panthers acquired no new receivers and Steve Smith
is one year older. To his benefit, the Panthers have one of
the easier quarterback schedules in the league.

Tom Brady - NEP

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 6

Keeper: 7Auction 10: 8%Auction 12: 10%

2010

NEP

16

324

492

3900

36

4

31

30

1

2011

NEP

16

401

611

5235

39

12

43

109

3

2012

NEP

16

401

637

4827

34

8

23

32

4

Avg

16

375

580

4654

36

8

32

57

3

Proj

NEP

4560

33

8

60

3

(-Risk) Brady enters his 14th season and at the age of 36 he is
definitely playing the back nine. But his level of play has
not diminished and he comes off a solid 2012 campaign with
4827 yards and 34 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. He
even had a career best four rushing scores. Brady will show
his age soon enough but no reason to expect it to show up this
season. He has a bad passing schedule but he always does and
this one is relatively lighter than most. He will have to make
do without Wes Welker. And there are at least potential
problems with Rob Gronkowski back and arm needing offseason
surgeries. This appears to be the
least formidable group of wideouts that Brady has employed in
quite a while led by the ever-injured Danny Amedola. But if
there is any offense that can make-do with whatever they have
on hand it is the Patriots. This season won't be any easier
for Brady, but there is no reason to shy away from him either.

09-26-13 Update: The release of Aaron Hernandez today means that Brady is going
to need to completely remake his receiver corps unless
Gronkowski gets healthy in time. Brady has excelled at making
stars from average players in the past but he'll be challenged
with the toughest challenge he'll have in a decade.

Tony Romo - DAL

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 7

Keeper: 12Auction 10: 5%Auction 12: 5%

2010

DAL

6

148

213

1605

11

7

6

38

2011

DAL

16

346

522

4184

31

10

22

46

1

2012

DAL

16

425

648

4903

28

19

30

49

1

Avg

13

306

461

3564

23

12

19

44

1

Proj

DAL

4900

32

16

40

1

Romo has been a top ten quarterback in every season that he
remains healthy and finally made it through an even-numbered
year without some season-ending injury. He was rewarded richly
with a $108 million contract in the offseason with $55 million
guaranteed. Not bad for an undrafted 33 year-old QB who led
the NFL in interceptions last year. In fairness, he did throw
for a career best 4903 yards and 28 touchdowns. He returns all
the same cast of receivers which includes Dez Bryant who
finally caught fire and turned into an inferno in the second
half of last year. Romo has also been given influence on the
play calling and personnel. He's been empowered and has a very
talented cast of receivers. He also will enjoy one of the
softest passing schedules in the NFL. The only thing that will
keep him from yet another top ten season - and maybe top five
- will be another injury.

Andrew Luck - IND

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 8

Keeper: 5Auction 10: 5%Auction 12: 5%

2010

2011

2012

IND

16

339

627

4374

23

18

62

255

5

Avg

16

339

627

4374

23

18

62

255

5

Proj

IND

4350

27

13

250

3

(+Upside) He isn't making anyone forget about Peyton Manning so much but
Luck came into his rookie season with minimal expectations.
The coaching staff was new and then Chuck Pagano missed the
year getting treated for Leukemia. The Colts had
stripped out most of the skill players other than Reggie
Wayne. And yet Luck ended up as a top ten quarterback and his
4374 yards were seventh best in the league - one yard better
than a
guy named Aaron Rodgers. Luck threw for 23 scores against
only 18 interceptions. The Colts went to the playoffs. All in
all it was a season that wildly exceeded expectations and
primarily so because of Luck. He threw six games with over 300
yards and topped 400 yards once. The offense may change
slightly with Bruce Arians gone to Arizona but OC Pep Hamilton
is trying to keep the offense as similar as it can be.
Consider that playing in the same place, Peyton Manning opened
his career with 3739 yards and 26 scores with 29 interceptions
and he had Marvin Harrison and Marshall Faulk. Luck threw for
4374 yards and 23 scores with 18 interceptions using just an
over-the-hill Reggie Wayne and Donald Brown. Luck also rushed
in five scores and the Colts did nothing to upgrade their
rushing game.

Robert Griffin III - CLE

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 9

Keeper: 8Auction 10: 5%Auction 12: 5%

2010

2011

2012

WAS

15

258

393

3200

20

5

120

815

7

Avg

15

258

393

3200

20

5

120

815

7

Proj

CLE

3800

25

7

480

4

(-Risk) No questions still lingering about the 2012 Rookie of the
Year's skill set. RG3 brought the Redskins into the playoffs,
he passed for 3200 yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing
for 815 yards and seven more scores. He landed top ten among
fantasy quarterbacks no matter what scoring you used. But he
also suffered tears in his ACL, LCL and PCL ligaments. His
rehabilitation has gone well by all accounts and while some
speculate he will be ready to go in week one, even he said he
won't play unless he is 100%. HC Mike Shanahan who was
crucified for letting him play on a bad knee also said he will
wait for RG3 to be completely healthy before he plays. So
until the season draws very close and his knee status is
definitively known, RG3 is at risk of missing training camp
and opening the season on the PUP list. Backup QB Kirk Cousins
played very well in relief last year and gives them confidence
should they want to go that route. The Redskins did nothing to
upgrade his receivers which will depress what he could do with
even one above average receiver.

Tier Three

Matthew Stafford - DET

YEAR

TM

GMS

CMP

ATT

PYD

PTD

INT

CAR

RYD

RTD

Huddle Rank: 10

Keeper: 10Auction 10: 5%Auction 12: 5%

2010

DET

3

57

96

535

6

1

4

11

1

2011

DET

16

421

663

5038

41

16

22

78

2012

DET

16

435

727

4967

20

17

35

126

4

Avg

12

304

495

3513

22

11

20

72

2

Proj

DET

4800

24

16

100

1

Stafford tailed off from 2012 - down only 71 passing yards but
with 21 fewer touchdowns (41 vs. 20). He also developed an
interesting trend. Stafford was great at home where he totaled
2761 yards and 12 scores but only managed 2206 yards and eight
scores away from Detroit - and that includes the 329 yards and
three scores in MIN. Stafford came up big in yardage in every
home game with never under 270 pass yards and four times
topping 350 yards. But on the road, he had just two 300 yard
games and was stuck at around 250 yards and one score in
almost every game. He's facing one of the very worst passing
schedules this year which will not help. The same offense and
players are there other than Reggie Bush. His monster 2011
year looks more like an exception now.